* * * * * * * * * * * * * The Electronic AIR * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* *
* The Electronic Newsletter *
* of the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) *
* Serving Institutional Research Professionals *
* and those Engaged in Mgt. Research, Policy Analysis & Planning *
* *
* July 6, 1994. . . . . . . . . . .Volume 14, Number 11 *
* Part A *
* Editor - Larry Nelson, Pacific Lutheran University *
* *
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* Current Subscribers = 1251 *
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* * * * * * * * * * * * * * TABLE OF CONTENTS * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* GUEST EDITORIAL - Is it Time for a Western AIR? *
* THE CHANGING SCENE *
* ABOUT BOOKS & JOURNALS - Publications Offer Help on Guidelines *
* for Citing Electronic Sources *
* ABOUT BOOKS & JOURNALS - Book on Focus Groups Available *
* NEWSNOTES - Items of Interest to the Institutional Researcher *
* AIR Forum Session Reports - Directory Surveys: Issues and *
* Perspectives from Publishers and Data Providers *
* NEWS - ERIC Clearinghouse Creates Gopher Jobs Directory *
* NEWS - "On The Horizon" Newsletter, Seminar, & E-Mail List Announced*
* NEWS - AERA Annual Meeting Call for Proposals *
* NEWS - Carnegie Study on "The Academic Profession Released" *
* NEWS - Policy Analysis SIG Launches E-Mail Discussion List *
* NEWS - TAIR President Shares "Sixteen Keys to a More Effective *
* Institutional Research Operation *
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* GUEST EDITORIAL - Is it Time for a Western AIR? *
* Peter Lau, U.C. - Riverside <72460.3000@CompuServe.COM> *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Editor's Note: Shortly after the recent AIR Forum, Peter Lau
<72460.3000@CompuServe.COM> sent me the following article. I have
decided to include it as a guest editorial. While the there could be
serious financial and other implications in the idea Peter raises, the
issue is one that merits discussion. I encourage you to address your
comments and ideas directly to Peter <72460.3000@CompuServe.COM>. I
have asked Peter to provide the AIR Executive Committee and me with a
summary of comments he receives. I have also invited the Executive
Committee to submit any comments they may wish to share with readers in
a future issue.
Is It Time For a Western AIR?
I have just returned from New Orleans and 4 days of heady
interactions with colleagues from all over the country, exchanging
ideas, learning about studies and projects, and commiserating about
budgets, workloads and other issues. I can't help but think about all
the other colleagues who were not able to attend AIR Forums, and how
much they are missing and missed in these interchanges. One of the
difficulties in attending these national professional meetings is of
course the cost involved. We are talking close to $1,000 for each
conference. But with geographical rotation, at least most of us can
afford a national conference every 3 to 4 years. AIR has been a good
example. We have had Forums on the West Coast every 3 to 4 years, the
last one being San Francisco in 1991. Prior to that, we have been to
Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Vancouver.
Unfortunately, something happened after 1991 to break this
geographical rotation. From Atlanta in 1992 to Albuquerque in 1996, it
will be 5 straight years of AIR Forums east of the Rockies (Albuquerque,
while a fine city, is not on the West Coast). Aside from convincing the
AIR Executive Board that the Rockies are not insurmountable, what else
can we West-coasters do? Let me make a couple of suggestions.
Is it time for a Western AIR Forum? The idea is not too far
fetched. After all, regional groups have been holding successful local
conferences. Would it be beneficial to have a joint regional conference
of AAIR, CAIR, CAPIR, PNAIRP, RMAIR, and UAIR, to form some kind of
mini-FORUM? This will certainly cut down on the travel cost, and yet
allows an exchange of ideas outside the state boundaries. Conference
cost can also be minimized if these are held on campuses along the West
Coast.
Another idea would be to hold AIR Summer Institutes on the West
Coast. With all the talented researchers in this area, I am certain
that we can assemble a set of qualified and capable trainers, presenting
workshops modeled on the AIR Summer Institutes. These summer institutes
will again allow local researchers to gain valuable training at minimal
cost.
I would like to gauge the opinions from readers on this net on these
ideas. I am, of course, especially interested in comments from
researchers on the West Coast. If I get enough opinions, I will
summarize them and forward them to the editor.
Peter Lau, U.C. - Riverside <72460.3000@CompuServe.COM>
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* THE CHANGING SCENE *
* "A way to keep up with news about our colleagues." *
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This portion of the newsletter is devoted to keeping you informed
about changes such as readers who relocate to new positions and/or
institutions, professional recognition awards and honors, retirements,
deaths, newly hired colleagues, promotions, etc. If you become aware of
a change on your campus or elsewhere which should be mentioned in "The
Changing Scene," please send me a note at with
the key facts. Keep it brief, but include the information you think
others would like to know.
GAIL HERMOSILLA became
Director, Planning & Institutional Research at Dutchess Community
College (Poughkeepsie, NY) following 17 years experience there as lead
systems analyst in the computer center there. Welcome to IR, Gail!
BRIAN SHUPPY was recently hired as an
Institutional Researcher at Weber State University located in Ogden,
Utah. Prior to his relocation to Weber State, Brian was at the
University of Utah's IR office were he had worked almost four years.
Good luck, Brian!
RICHARD WEIBL recently left Ohio State
to accept a position as Director of Institutional research at Antioch
College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Good luck, Richard!
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* ABOUT BOOKS & JOURNALS - Publications Offer Help on Guidelines *
* for Citing Electronic Sources *
* Reprinted From: Infobits *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The prevalence of electronic-only versions of publications can
create a problem when trying to cite these publications in articles,
footnotes, and bibliographies. Here are some sources of guidelines for
handling these citations.
Electronic Style: A Guide to Citing Electronic Information
by Xia Li and Nancy B. Crane
Westport: Meckler, 1993
ISBN: 0-88736-909-X
More complete than The Chicago Manual of Style.
The Chicago Manual of Style, 14th ed.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1993
ISBN: 0-226-10389-7
Contains a section on citing electronic resources.
Bibliographic References for Computer Files in the Social Sciences: A
Discussion Paper
by Sue A. Dodd
Chapel Hill, NC: Institute for Research in Social Science, University
of North Carolina, 1990
Available by anonymous ftp from host: ftp.msstate.edu;
directory: /pub/docs/history/netuse; filename: electronic.biblio.cite
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* ABOUT BOOKS & JOURNALS - Book on Focus Groups Available *
* Reprinted From: Public Opinion Research List *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
To the person who asked about good focus group texts. . . I have
only high praise for the Dick Krueger book "Focus Groups: A Practical
Guide for Applied Research". It is fantastic and covers all areas.
It's also a very pleasant read. Dr. Krueger is at the University of
Minnesota and offers training and an exhaustive bibliography on focus
groups.
John Stevenson
E-Mail:
UW-Madison
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* NEWSNOTES - Items of Interest to the Institutional Researcher *
* "Keeping up with what's new in the world!" *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This portion of the newsletter is devoted to brief items of news
that IR professionals may find of interest. Reader contributions are
welcome. Send them to .
Poll Says Info. Highway's Great, But What Is It?
Thirty-four percent of adults polled by Louis Harris and Associates
have seen, heard or read something about the information superhighway.
Sixty percent of those think it sounds like an excellent or pretty good
idea -- but admit that they have little understanding of what it
actually is. (St. Petersburg Times 5/16/94 Business p.10) (Reprinted
from: E-d-u-p-a-g-e, 05/17/94)
Microsoft Ships Test Release Of Chicago
Microsoft is shipping a test version of its Windows upgrade, code
named Chicago, to more than 20,000 customers, software developers and
computer makers. Its general release is expected by the end of the year.
"Our goal... is assuring that Windows `Chicago' will be a `no-brainer'
upgrade," says a Microsoft VP. (Wall Street Journal 6/21/94 B9)
(Reprinted from: E-d-u-p-a-g-e, 06/20/94)
Will Internet Be Paradise Lost?
Author James Fallows predicts that as the Internet expands,
"something will have to give: either the government will stop paying, or
politicians will notice that the government is paying and will impose
controls, like those imposed by school boards on textbook content or by
the FCC on radio and TV broadcasts. The Internet's low-visibility era of
subsidized innocence will end, and the network will become as
complicated as anything else." (Atlantic Monthly, July 94, p.34)
(Reprinted from: E-d-u-p-a-g-e, 06/20/94)
Twenty Years Ago ... The Altair 8800
The first PC sold to the general public was the Altair 8800, which
appeared in the December 1974 issue of Popular Electronics. Its $250
price tag purchased a box of circuits and lights, but no software or
screen, and it required 50 commands, executed by flipping switches, just
to get started. (Tampa Tribune 6/27/94 B&F3) (Reprinted from:
E-d-u-p-a-g-e, 06/28/94)
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* AIR Forum Session Reports - Directory Surveys: Issues and *
* Perspectives from Publishers and Data Providers *
* Gail Kehoe *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Forum Session 402.6 Directory Surveys: Issues and Perspectives from
Publishers and Data Providers
Participants:
Allan Corderman-CEO, Publisher for Wintergreen/Orchard House, Inc.
Peter Hegener-President, Peterson's Guide
Robert Seaver-VP for Communications, College Board
Anne Machung-Senior Analyst, U of California-Berkeley
Joyce Rigdon-Director of IR, Rowan College of New Jersey
Don Nimmer-Director of IR, Central Missouri State University
Summary:
Following a brief introduction, representatives of each of the
directories provided a general "flow" of how their surveys are
developed, distributed, data obtained, entered and edited and
directories produced. They enumerated the various other directories
which also use these data and how future versions of their surveys might
be completed via electronic means. Anne Machung explored her
institution's movement toward a common response that would be
distributed to all directories and Joyce Rigdon discussed the
increasingly common practice of having these surveys completed by campus
offices of public relations. Don shared a number of contacts he has had
with directory publishers that have resulted in positive changes to
their future surveys.
The questions and comments from the audience revealed that the
information provided by the publishers helped them to better understand
the entire publishing process and the large number of directories to
which the data are distributed from a given survey. The general mood
was that of developing a common survey response for selected topics and
of allowing the directories to ask a limited number of questions about
others. The positive dialogue among the panelists and the members of
the audience helped set the stage for future cooperative efforts between
institutional researchers and directory publishers.
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* NEWS - ERIC Clearinghouse Creates Gopher Jobs Directory *
* Reprinted From: AERA Discussion List *
* *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation has created a
Jobs/ directory at its Gopher site. This directory contains
announcements of jobs involving research, statistics, educational
psychology, and measurement that were originally announced on the AERA,
AERA-D, AERA-H, ASSESS, and EARLI-AE listservs.
The ERIC_AE Gopher can be reached via gopher to gopher.cua.edu under
Special Resources/; or via telnet to ericir.syr.edu (password gopher),
under ERIC Clearinghouses by subject area/.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* NEWS - "On The Horizon" Newsletter, Seminar, & E-Mail List Announced*
* James Morrison UNC - Chapel Hill *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
_On_the_Horizon_ is a five-times-a year newsletter that keeps a
weather eye out for the trends and events that will affect the future of
education. _On_the_Horizon's_ editorial board members look for changes
in the Social, Technological, Economic, Environmental, and Political
(STEEP) environments. We report that information, point you to sources
of supporting information, and discuss the implications for the future
of education. And every issue includes at least one essay that looks
across the STEEP sectors to offer the kind of perspective that more than
a few of our readers have asked for--vision.
For a free sample issue, please contact the editor,
.
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Announcing: Global Change Seminar
_On_the_Horizon_, in conjunction with Saint Andrews University,
Scotland, is sponsoring the fourth Global Change seminar, "Managing
Issues on the Horizon," July 29 through August 1 1994, at Saint Andrews.
The purpose of the seminar is to enhance college and university leaders'
skills in identifying upcoming issues, in forecasting their impact, and
in planning strategically, using the 10-step Anticipatory Issues
Management model developed by William Ashley and James Morrison (seminar
facilitator). Each participant will receive a handbook describing the
model and containing all presentation notes and slides.
For more information, contact:
James L. Morrison
CB# 3500, Peabody Hall
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Phone: (919) 962-2517; FAX: (919) 962-1533
E-Mail:
- - - - -
Announcing: Horizon (E-mail) List
The purpose of this list is to encourage discussion about
environmental scanning and issue management. Much of the discussion will
center on articles that have appeared in _On_the_Horizon_, the
environmental scanning newsletter for leaders in education. Much of the
discussion may also center on what articles we should publish in future
issues of the newsletter. And we may put some articles focusing on the
signals of change we see in the macro environment to get your reaction
as to their implications for K-12 schools as well as for colleges and
universities world-wide. The list is unmoderated, and is open to all.
To subscribe, send the message "subscribe horizon " to
listserv@gibbs.oit.unc.edu. To post to the list, mail to
horizon@gibbs.oit.unc.edu.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* NEWS - AERA Annual Meeting Call for Proposals *
* Reprinted From: AERA Discussion List *
* *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The 1995 Annual Meeting Call for Proposals is now available in the
May issue of Educational Researcher. The deadline for submission is
August 2, 1994. AERA members residing outside the U.S. may wish to
request a special copy of the call in order to ensure a timely response.
Write, call or fax AERA Headquarters, 1230 17th St. NW, Washington, DC
20036-3078, Phone (202) 223-9485; Fax (202) 775-1824. We will send you a
copy of the call via airmail.
Denise McKeon
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* NEWS - Carnegie Study on "The Academic Profession Released" *
* Reprinted From: The Daily Report Card News Service, 6/20/94 *
* *
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College professors worldwide lament the lack of respect their
profession receives from the public, according to a report to be
released today by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of
Teaching. More than 60% of American professors assert that "respect for
their field is declining," writes the WASH. POST (Jordan, 6/20).
However, the feelings of disrespect are even more widespread in Japan,
Korea, England and Brazil, according to the study.
One reason cited for the declining regard of professors is their
lack of "connection to real-life problems," stated James Perley,
president-elect of the American Association of University Professors.
Ernest Boyer, president of the Carnegie Foundation, agreed that the
"disconnection between scholars and the world's problems" is key to the
erosion of respect. Boyer: "My interpretation is that there is a
growing feeling that universities are not relevant to social issues and
problems."
But professors point to the "publish-or-perish" dilemma, writes the
N.Y. TIMES (Honan, 6/20). Many professors noted that the "higher
education system does not encourage 'real-life' practical community
work, because there is no reward for it," reports the POST. Boyer:
"Ironically in many countries professors who spend too much time
applying their knowledge to real life issues many, in fact, jeopardize
their careers." However, several U.S. colleges are becoming more engaged
in research and efforts to ameliorate societal problems. The POST
mentions Yale U and the U of Pennsylvania as illustrative of schools
located in impoverished inner cities that are directing "money and
manpower to tutor disadvantaged children, erase eyesores and employ
those without jobs." And Joe Wyatt, chancellor of Vanderbilt U has
called for graduate schools of education to become active participants
in reform efforts nationwide.
The study also found that nearly one in three U.S. professors
detected "political or ideological restrictions on what they published,"
writes the POST. Only Korean professors recorded a higher figure.
"That really startled me," said Boyer. "We like to say we don't have
censorship." Other findings: a majority of faculty members in 6 of 10
countries, including the U.S., said students are not "adequately
prepared for higher education when they graduate from secondary school;"
and faculty members in more than half of the nations surveyed said
administrators were autocratic, according to the TIMES. "The Academic
Profession: An International Perspective" is a two-year study that
samples the opinions of 20,000 professors in 13 nations and Hong Kong.
The countries include: Australia, Brazil, Britain, Chile, the former
West Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, the
Netherlands, Russia, Sweden and the U.S.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* NEWS - Policy Analysis SIG Launches E-Mail Discussion List *
* Larry Nelson, Pacific Lutheran University *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Marie Zeglen (Univ. System of New Hampshire) and Robin Zuniga
(WICHE), and Mark Hughes (Univ. System of New Hampshire) have, on behalf
of the AIR Policy Analysis Special Interest Group, launched a new
discussion list called "AIRPAL." This list is intended to provide a
forum for exchange of ideas, questions, research results, or other news
of interest to those working on higher education policy issues. The
sharing of research, tools, methods, and strategies for policy analysis
is encouraged. The list is unedited and uncensored, but common rules of
electronic etiquette should be followed. Use the list for postings of
general interest to members. Private discussions are best conducted
through normal electronic channels.
Persons wishing to add themselves to the list should send the
following message to LISTSERV@UNH.EDU:
SUB AIRPAL Your_First_Name Your_Last_Name
To send mail to the list, send mail to "AIRPAL@UNH.EDU". To be
removed from the list or have your address changed, or if you need
additional help, send mail to "AIRPAL-REQUEST@UNH.EDU"
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* NEWS - TAIR President Shares "Sixteen Keys to a More Effective *
* Institutional Research Operation *
* Reprinted From: Texas AIR Elec. Newsletter, 6/94 *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Editor's Note: I thought this list of suggestions offered a very
worthwhile set of standards against which we could assess our own IR
office operations.
A Message From the President, by Glenn W. James
Institutional researchers and planners are faced with the task of
supporting and facilitating effective management and planning processes
not only on their campuses but in their own offices. How can we address
this challenge? How can we increase the effectiveness of the
institutional research operation?
I would like to share a list of sixteen items for your
consideration. Developed from the common problems and solutions
identified and compiled by Mark Meredith and colleagues (Coburn, et al.,
1990; Meredith, 1990), the following list contains sixteen key items
that can help you to develop a more effective institutional research
operation at your institution for 1994-95. So, put on your introspective
evaluation hat, and think about how you and your office are measuring up
on these items:
Sixteen Keys to a More Effective
Institutional Research Operation
1. Establish priorities.
2. Strive for attaining/maintaining valid and reliable data.
3. Target your efforts. In office operations, aim toward
priorities (see 1.). In projects, aim toward the focused purpose or
goal of the project.
4. Organize and archive your office reports as a series, with each
report being identified by volume, number, and date (e.g., Profile of
First-Time Freshmen, IR Series, Vol. 93-94, No. 12, September 22, 1994).
5. Distill complex or voluminous data into information that has
utility for the report users.
6. In procuring and upgrading your office hardware and software,
consider compatibility issues as well as utility and performance. Also
consider intra-office and inter-office interfaces.
7. Assume that the potential for overload is a constant reality.
Then take steps to establish priorities (see 1.), keep efforts on target
and efficient (see 3.), and ensure that you are making good use of
current resources (people, equipment, facility).
8. Developing and maintaining documentation is imperative.
Cross-training is desirable.
9. Awareness of institutional issues and perspectives is
imperative.
10. Assist data custodians in error detection and correction.
Strive for attaining/maintaining harmonious rapport with data
custodians.
11. Strive for appropriateness in the scope and focus of your
response to an institutional need/issue/problem.
12. When appropriate, use a problem-solution approach as the
framework for your report. Provide alternative actions and
recommendations for users to consider.
13. Timeliness is imperative.
14. In production of IR reports, clearly summarize and highlight
the "bottom line" and other important information. Strive for clarity
through summarizing and highlighting, while tailoring the report for the
targeted users. Provide additional details in an appendix, or refer to
detailed information being available from the IR office.
15. Avoid use of old data (e.g., 1983-84).
16. Ensure your professional knowledge and competence through a
continual development and renewal process that includes contact and
involvement with professional associations, colleagues at other
institutions, current professional literature, workshops, seminars,
coursework, and other avenues for professional development. Seek new
approaches to bolster or update the projects and operations of your
office.
- - - - -
This summer, as you prepare yourself and your office for the busy
beginning of another academic year, take time to assess your operation
and adjust it to improve your effectiveness and your service to your
institution. Best wishes for a great summer; I hope it will be a time
of renewal for you. Before we know it, the new academic year will be
here!
- - - - -
References:
Coburn, K., Field, T., Hunter, L., Lindquist, S., Meredith, M., &
Olomon, J. (1990, May 16). Common institutional research problems and
solutions -- ... or 'IR can be trying'. Panel presentation at the 30th
Annual Forum of the Association for Institutional Research, Louisville,
KY.
James, G. W. (1993, February 25). Increasing the effectiveness of
the institutional research operation: A primer of problems and
solutions. Paper presentation at the 15th Annual Conference of the
Texas Association for Institutional Research, Bryan / College Station,
TX.
Meredith, M. (Revised, 1990). Illustrative steps to improve
institutional research. Excerpts from the workshop "Assessing and
Increasing the Effectiveness and Impact of the Institutional Research
Function at Your Institution," 29th Annual Forum (May 1989) of the
Association for Institutional Research, Baltimore, MD.
- - - - - - - - -
This newsletter is continued in Part B, sent separately.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* If you have AIR news, send it to Larry Nelson, Editor, at: *
* (Pacific Lutheran University). *
* (Please limit submissions to 72 characters or fewer per line and *
* use mixed case, NOT ALL CAPS--NO NEED TO SHOUT.) *
* If you have news for the SCUP electronic newsletter, send it to *
* or . *
* For further information regarding individual or organizational *
* membership in the Association for Institutional Research, contact *
* Terrence Russell, Executive Director, AIR, 314 Stone Bldg., *
* Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-3038 *
* Telephone: (904) 644-4470 or on Internet: . *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *